Winding mandrel for strip products

ABSTRACT

A winding mandrel for material such as felted mineral fiber blankets which have resilience in the major plane of the blanket and normal to that plane including two elongate members generally paralleling the winding axis for the blanket and adapted to support the initially wound portion of the blanket. Axial motion of the wound blanket on the elongate members incidental to the unloading of the mandrel is facilitated by arranging the members to be moved toward each other thereby relieving the pressure between the blanket and members and relieving the attendant frictional forces. Spool ends support the elongate members one of which is coaxial with the winding axis. One spool end is removable from the elongate members and the other mounts the eccentrically carried elongate member for motion toward and away from the axis. Means for automatically spacing the movable member at its outer limit prior to winding and for maintaining that spacing during winding are provided.

United States Patent [1 1 Kubovich et al.

1 WINDING MANDREL FOR STRIP PRODUCTS [75] Inventors: Frank S. Kubovich, Rossford;

Rupert Douglas Terry, Toledo, both of Ohio 22 Filed: June 27,1972

21 Appl. No.: 266,624

[52] US. Cl 242/68, 242/66, 242/67.l R [51] Int. Cl B65h 17/02 [58] Field of Search 242/68, 74, 66, 67.1 R, 242/67.2, 67.3 R, 68.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,159,781 11/1915 McCoy 242/67.1 R 2,480,591 8/1949 Mitchell ..242/67.l R

2,637,129 5/1953 Congdon 242/67 3 R 2,880,943 4/1959 Stephens 242/67.l R

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 85,289 3/1958 Denmark 242/55 [111 3,830,442 Aug. 20, 1974 Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert lssistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy 5 7 ABSTRACT A winding mandrel for material such as felted mineral fiber blankets which have resilience in the major plane of the blanket and normal to that plane including two elongate members generally paralleling the winding axis for the blanket and adapted to support the initially wound portion of the blanket. Axial motion of the wound blanket on the elongate members incidental to the unloading of the mandrel is facilitated by arranging the members to be moved toward each other thereby relieving the pressure between the blanket and members and relieving the attendant frictional forces. Spool ends support the elongate members one of which is coaxial with the winding axis. One spool end is removable from the elongate members and the other mounts the eccentrically carried elongate memher for motion toward and away from the axis. Means for automatically spacing the movable member at its outer limit prior to winding and for maintaining that spacing during winding are provided.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures WINDING MANDREL FOR STRIP PRODUCTS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The winding mandrel of this invention is particularly adapted for utilization with the wind-up and method involving peripherially driving the mandrel and product in rotation about the winding axis as disclosed in US Pat. Application Ser. No. 266,623 filed June 27, 1972 herewith in the names of Richard Lloyd Troyer, Theodore Richard Rohweder and Ronald Buxton Raab and entitled Apparatus for and Method of Winding Strip Products". While that application includes a disclosure of one form of mandrel according to this invention, it is to be appreciated that this mandrel can be employed with other winding methods and apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Winding of blankets of resilient material under tension upon a mandrel produces frictional forces which must be overcome if the wound coils are to be removed from the mandrel. In the winding of resilient blankets such as air felted blankets of mineral fibers bound together with a resin binder, such blankets are wound without a mandrel by forming a winding core from the end tuck of the blanket or by winding on a tubular mandrel with relatively low tension and compression in the blanket. The radially inwardly directed forces imposed on the blanket contacting the mandrel in such mandrel supported coils are not sufficient to impede removal of .the coil by sliding it from the end of the mandrel. Some resilient blankets, particularly where the desired properties of the blanket are not detrimentally affected by higher levels of compression and tension during winding, advantageously are wound under relatively high tension and compression in order to reduce their volume and the warehouse and shipping space they require.

In the case of a winding mandrel where the leading end of the blanket is secured between a pair of elongate members such as a primary core coaxial with the man: drel winding axis and a rod spaced from the core and adapted to carry a tuck of the blanket to a position against the primary core and beneath the next following blanket turn, the tension and compression imposed In one embodiment a mandrel in the form of a spool having end discs spaced by a primary core is arranged with a rod generally paralleling the winding axis and adapted to cooperate with the core to hold the leading end of the strip as winding is initiated. Where the core and rod are parallel to the winding axis the rod is arranged to be moved toward the core to facilitate the release of the coil of strip from the mandrel. Removal of the coil is accomplished by the removal of one disc or spool end from the core and rod. The disc or spool end which remains fastened to the core and rod is provided with a guide which may be a slot through which the rod extends and to which the rod is fastened by collars which slidingly abut the disc in the region of the slot margins. One form of slot is generally L-shaped with the foot of the L extending radially inward from its leg. The leg extends along the circumference of the disc in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the mandrel. This geometry, when applied to a mandrel which has a weight distribution and mounting such that the movable rod will fall below the primary core, causes the rod to fall to its outer limit as the mandrel is placed in its winding mounting. It also retains the rod at that outer limit-during winding since during initial rotation of the mandrel the weight of the rod causes it to be displaced to the end of the slot leg remote from the slot foot.

to reduce package volume can be so great that thepressure between the blanket and the primary core and rod develops such compression that frictional forces interfere significantly with the removal of the blanket coil from the mandrel. It has been observed that where manual removal of coils is employed, the unloading of blankets wound under increased tension and compression is impeded to a degree which imposes limits on production. Further, the product can be damaged during unloading by virtue of the forces required to be applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to winding mandrels for strip products and more particularly to winding mandrels for resilient strip products wound under. compression and/or tension wherein the effective mandrel structure cross-section for the reception of the initial turns of the strip can be reduced to facilitate removal of the wound strip from the mandrel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of a mandrel according to this invention showing fragments of the mandrel indexer, and the cradle rollers which support and drive the mandrel and, as it builds beyond the mandrel diameter, the outer face of the coil of strip;

FIG. 2 is a fragment of a front elevation of the mandrel;

FIG. V 3 is a section of the mandrel taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the mandrel suspended from an indexer yoke with the rod at its outer extreme of its mounting slot;

FIG. 4 is a view as in FIG. 3 with the spool end lowered to the drive rollers; an end of strip material started in the mandrel and displacing the rod to its retained outer extreme position;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the mandrel with a spool end removed showing a coil of strip material wound thereon and the tuck rod in its latched outer position; and

FIG. 6 is a view as in FIG. 5 with the tuck rod displaced to its relieved position to facilitate axial removal of the coil from the core and rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 depicts'the mandrel 11 on a pair of drive or cradle rolls l2 and 13 mounted for rotation about their longitudinal axis (by means not shown) and provided with driving means for rotating them in the same direction at the same peripheral speed (by means not shown). The mandrel 11 has end discs 14 and 15 each of which are circular normal to the winding axis and have peripheral surfaces 16 and 17 for frictionally engaging the rolls l2 and 13. Where driving friction is to be enhanced, surfaces 16 and 17 can be faced with a material having a suitable coefficient of friction with the surfaces of rolls l2 and 13 such as brake lining material.

' tion toward disc 14 by a shoulder 21 (FIG. 2) at the end of a flat 22 extending from its free end 23. Shoulder 21 abuts the face of disc 15 in the region of the margin of the accommodating aperture which conforms to the flat 22. Tuck rod 24 is mounted in disc 15 in an aperture providing a sliding fit and which permits it to be withdrawn as the disc is drawn from the free end 23 of the core.

Disc 14 is secured to tuck rod 24 with a sliding fit by means of a slot 25 having a width slightly in excess of the transverse dimension of rod 24, its diameter when a circular rod is employed. Collars 26 and 27 are secured to rod 24 as by set screws (not shown) so that their proximate ends present limiting abutments to the face of disc 14 in the region of the margin of slot 25. Rod 24 can be moved in the face of disc 14 within the confines of slot 25 and thus along an L-shaped path including the radially extending foot section 28 and the circumferentially extending leg section 29 of slot 25 for purposes to be discussed.

Mandrel 11 is shown supported from indexer yokes 31 and 32 each of which is carried by an elevator piston rod 33 and 34 driven from a cylinder 35 and 36. As initially mounted mandrel 11 is suspended from extensions of centrally mounted core 18 with discs 14 and 15 out of contact with rolls 12 and 13 in FIGS. 1 and 3. When thus suspended, the off-center weight of rod 24 causes it to hang below core 18 and to drop to the outer limit of radial slot section 28 thereby presenting a window between core 18 and rod 24 for the reception of the strip stock 37 which is to be wound (see FIG. 4). The leg 29 of slot 25 extends from the foot in the direction opposite that in which the mandrel is rotated, counter clockwise for the clockwise rotation of FIG. 1, so that gravity and the drag of the strip stock 37 on rod 24 carries it along leg 29 of the slot. This prevents rod 24 from being displaced toward core 18 as the package builds inasmuch as the inner margin 38 of the leg 29 prevents such displacement. The effect of the drag of the strip stock is illustrated in FIG. 4 where yokes 31 and 32 have been lowered to bring the peripheries 16 and 17 of discs 14 and 15 into contact with rotating rollers 12 and 13.

Winding of the strip proceeds with successive layers I building a coil 39 which approaches a circular crosssection having its leading end 41 tucked between the primary core 18 and the next following turn 42 of the strip in the manner described in the above noted copending application (see FIG. As the outer surface of the coil builds beyond the periphery of discs 14 and rolls I2 and 13 engage that outer surface and continue to drive the strip and its enclosed mandrel until the desired length of strip is wound.

The strip is wound under tension when the peripheral speed of the rollers 12 and 13 exceeds the lineal speed of the feed of the strip to the winding apparatus. It can be subjected to compression by a pressure roll (not shown) located to press the discs 14 and 15 and the strip toward the cradle formed by rolls 12 and 13. When wound subject to tension andlor compression and when composed of a resilient material such as directed inward to compress the inner layers of the strip 37 against core 18 and rod 24. This pressure produces frictional forces tending to retain the coil on the core 18 and rod 24. In order to reduce this force inhibiting the removal of the coil 39. from the mandrel, after the disc 15 is drawn off the ends of core 18 and rod '24 the rod 24 is moved along the leg 29 of slot 25 to the foot portion 28 of that slot. This permits the inner layers of the wind of coil 39 to relax and relieve the pressure atthe interface between strip 37 and core 18 and rod 24 as shown in FIG. 6 whereby the core 18 and rod 24 can be conveniently withdrawn from within coil 39. When the coil is removed mandrel 11 conditions itself for winding the next length of strip 37 as it is returned to the winder apparatus and supported by yokes 31 and 32 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and described above.

It is to be appreciated that rod 24 can be released for displacement toward core 18 and can be retained in its outer position by slot forms other than the specific L- shape shown. Further mechanical toggel linkages or the like between the rod and disc can be utilized for these purposes. The mandrel construction is not confined to a core mounted coincident with the center of the discs 14 and 15. Relief of the internal stresses and pressures in the coil can also be achieved by movement of the core 18 relative to discs 14 and 15. In view of the modifications which are available, it is to be understood that the disclosure is to be read as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A mandrel for winding resilient strip stock under tension and/or compression and for facilitating the removal of a wound coil of the stock therefrom comprising a pair of opposed end members; a pair of spaced, generally parallel, elongate members extending between said end members and being spaced a first distance when positioned for winding to secure therebetween the leading end of a length of strip stock to be wound; mounting means for supporting said elongate members upon said end members; and means for relaxing inner layers of a coil wound on the mandrel to reduce forces between the mandrel and the coil inhibiting removal of the coil from the mandrel.

2. A mandrel according to claim 1 wherein said end members are discs which are circular in a plane generally normal to the length of said elongate members.

3. A mandrel according to claim 1 wherein said first distance is greater than the relaxed thickness of said resilient strip stock. I

4. A mandrel according to claim 2-wherein one of said elongate members is mounted on said discs at the center thereof and wherein said mounting means for the second of said elongate members makes a sliding engagement with each of said discs eccentric thereof.

5. A mandrel according to claim 4 wherein said mounting means for said second elongate member is a slide on one of said discs movable longitudinally of said elongate member to and beyond the end thereof, and wherein said mounting means for the second of said discs is movable transverse of the major face of said second disc.

6. A mandrel according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means for said elongate members on one of said discs are slides movable longitudinally of said elongate members adapted for movement toward and beyond the proximate free ends of said elongate members.

7. A mandrel according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means for a first of said elongate members on said discs is centered in the circular plane of said discs, and said mounting means for a second of said elongate members on a second of said discs is a slide parallel to the major plane of said second disc and having a section extending generally radially of said disc and a section extending generally normal to said radial section.

8. A mandrel according to claim 7 wherein said section of said slide extending generally normal to said radial section extends from said radial section in a direction opposite the direction in which said mandrel and disc are rotated for winding strip stock.

9. A mandrel for winding resilient blankets of felted mineral fibers under compression and/or tension and for facilitating the removal of a wound coil of the blanket therefrom comprising a first circular end disc; a second circular end disc; said end discs being adapted for peripheral driving in rotation about their centers; a

primary core member extending through the center of each of said circular end discs; a slide in said first end disc embracing said primary core to adapt said first end disc for movement longitudinally of said primary core toward the proximate free end thereof; a tuck rod extending between each of said discs and generally paralleling said primary core at a spacing from said core exceeding the relaxed thickness of the blanket; a slide in said first end disc embracing said tuck rod to adapt said first end disc for movement longitudinally of said tuck rod; said second disc having an L-shaped slot adapted to receive said tuck rod for sliding engagement transverse of said second disc; means maintaining said tuck rod in said slot for sliding motion along said slot; said slot having a radially extending section and a section normal to the radius of said disc contiguous with the outer limit of said radially extending section and extending from said radially extending section in the direction opposite the winding direction of said mandrel; and means to suspend said mandrel whereby said tuck rod is pendant from said suspending means and slides along said radially extending slot section to said normal slot section and, when said mandrel is initially rotated, slides along said normal slot section under the influence of gravity.

10. A mandrel as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said relaxing means comprises means for reducing the spacing between said elongate members. 

1. A mandrel for winding resilient strip stock under tension and/or compression and for facilitating the removal of a wound coil of the stock therefrom comprising a pair of opposed end members; a pair of spaced, generally parallel, elongate members extending between said end members and being spaced a first distance when positioned for winding to secure therebetween the leading end of a length of strip stock to be wound; mounting means for supporting said elongate members upon said end members; and means for relaxing inner layers of a coil wound on the mandrel to reduce forces between the mandrel and the coil inhibiting removal of the coil from the mandrel.
 2. A mandrel according to claim 1 wherein said end members are discs which are circular in a plane generally normal to the length of said elongate members.
 3. A mandrel according to claim 1 wherein said first distance is greater than the relaxed thickness of said resilient strip stock.
 4. A mandrel according to claim 2 wherein one of said elongate members is mounted on said discs at the center thereof and wherein said mounting means for the second of said elongate members makes a sliding engagement with each of said discs eccentric thereof.
 5. A mandrel according to claim 4 wherein said mounting means for said second elongate member is a slide on one of said discs movable longitudinally of said elongate member to and beyond the end thereof, and wherein said mounting means for the second of said discs is movable transverse of the major face of said second disc.
 6. A mandrel according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means for said elongate members on one of said discs are slides movable longitudinally of said elongate members adapted for movement toward and beyond the proximate free ends of said elongate members.
 7. A mandrel according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means for a first of said elongate members on said discs is centered in the circular plane of said discs, and said mounting means for a second of said elongate members on a second of said discs is a slide parallel to the major plane of said second disc and having a section extending generally radially of said disc and a section extending generally normal to said radial section.
 8. A mandrel according to claim 7 wherein said section of said slide extending generally normal to said radial section extends from said radial section in a direction opposite the direction in which said mandrel and disc are rotated for winding strip stock.
 9. A mandrel for winding resilient blankets of felted mineral fibers under compression and/or tension and for facilitating the removal of a wound coil of the blanket therefrom comprising a first circular end disc; a second circular end disc; said end discs being adapted for peripheral driving in rotation about their centers; a primary core member extending through the center of each of sAid circular end discs; a slide in said first end disc embracing said primary core to adapt said first end disc for movement longitudinally of said primary core toward the proximate free end thereof; a tuck rod extending between each of said discs and generally paralleling said primary core at a spacing from said core exceeding the relaxed thickness of the blanket; a slide in said first end disc embracing said tuck rod to adapt said first end disc for movement longitudinally of said tuck rod; said second disc having an L-shaped slot adapted to receive said tuck rod for sliding engagement transverse of said second disc; means maintaining said tuck rod in said slot for sliding motion along said slot; said slot having a radially extending section and a section normal to the radius of said disc contiguous with the outer limit of said radially extending section and extending from said radially extending section in the direction opposite the winding direction of said mandrel; and means to suspend said mandrel whereby said tuck rod is pendant from said suspending means and slides along said radially extending slot section to said normal slot section and, when said mandrel is initially rotated, slides along said normal slot section under the influence of gravity.
 10. A mandrel as defined in claim 1 wherein: said relaxing means comprises means for reducing the spacing between said elongate members. 